Saturday, August 24, 2013

In the shadow of three-plus hours of testimony July 30, with the overwhelming majority of participants pushing back against two controversial proposed ordinances, the Boise City Council will move forward next week with one of the proposals outlawing aggressive panhandling, while shelving a second proposal, known as the Civil Sidewalks Ordinance.

The so-called Public Solicitation Ordinance, as revised, would put further restrictions on individuals looking for help. It would penalize soliciting from roadways and panhandling near banks, ATMS, sidewalk cafes, service lines, bus stops, tax stands, public parking payment stations and in parking garages. An initial violation would incur an infraction. If the individual is acting in an aggressive manner, it would become a misdemeanor violation.

If approved, the ordinance would become effective Jan. 2, 2014, but only if it survives its first reading this coming Tuesday, Aug. 27; a second reading on Tuesday, Sept. 10; and a final reading and vote scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 17.